Stoughton author uses imagination to spark stories

Monday

Sep 1, 2014 at 4:00 AMMay 22, 2016 at 3:34 PM

By Mark Snyder

Stoughton's Judith Z. Brutus is a dynamic young woman who escaped a childhood that was made manageable only through her imagination. The Central Street resident, and mom to sons Ryan and Jacob, began life in Haiti. When she was three, her mom went to the United States. When she was 11, her father died.

She tells me, "Imagination was my whole life in Haiti. It was such a poor country. Everything collapsed when my dad died. Everything was gone - my home, my house, my bed, my toys and my dolls. My imagination literally kept me alive. I watched American movies like, "Cinderella." I read American books. Everything was in French. I kept a diary. It was so rough." Growing up was difficult.

"I was treated like a slave," she said. "I was forced to cook and clean. I prayed. I was abused by everybody. I wanted to die. I climbed on the roof of my house. I was going to jump. You can't see doctors in Haiti. You have to be rich." In her youth, to escape the harsh reality of life, she created an imaginary world filled with characters from books and movies. Once she entered her imaginary world, she found it quite difficult to leave because she could be anyone, at any time, and in any place regardless of what was going in her life. In 1988, a man brought Judith to the United States. "I took the risk and I don't regret it," she said. "I lived in Florida with my mom's family."

She finally got together with her mom and moved to Boston. But she said the Department of Children's Services "saved my life. They gave me a green card, an education, and a place to stay." Brutus made the most of the opportunity. This woman taught herself English, and speaks incredibly well. She first studied social work at Quincy College. Then she graduated from Suffolk University. Next, Brutus got her master's degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University. She's hoping to attend law school next. Brutus also enjoys playing basketball, the violin and listening to classical music. She deeply admires the simplicity of being away from the reality of life and being herself. Meanwhile, the third-year resident of Stoughton has written two books, which are aimed at those ages 3-8. The first, "Ryan's Imaginary House," was published last year. Ryan lives in a small house and needs more space indoors and outdoors to play with his classmates. His mom and dad cannot afford it and he is too young to buy a house himself. What will Ryan do? Hint: his imagination can build anything. This month, her second, "I'm Jacob & I Don't Know," was published. Both are part of her "The Power of Imagination" series, and are published by Authorhouse LLC. The goal of her series is to channel children's minds in a positive direction through the power of their imaginations regardless of their current lifestyle or environment. More information is available on Brutus, her books and her efforts to stop child abuse at http://www.thepowerofimaginationseries.com. As Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions." The Port-au-Prince beauty is an inspiring speaker and writer, and also an aspiring actress (she appeared as a traveler in the motion picture "Edge of Darkness," directed by Martin Campbell and Mel Gibson. And, you may have seen her in an Adidas commercial with former Celtic Kevin Garnett.) Mark Snyder, the CEO of PMPNetwork.com and SnydersStoughton.com, is the author of three books and over 2000 newspaper and magazine articles. He can be reached by fax at 866-655-8234, by email at snydersstoughton2011@gmail.com, on Facebook (snydersstoughton) and on Twitter (@mediaman2009). His office is at 4 Cabot Place, Suite 9 on the third floor, together with Natalia Vargas Insurance. Mark has been writing this column since November of 1998.

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